Vitamin D for Children

• Vitamin D (Calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin of which there are two types:
  • Vitamin D₂ (ergocalciferol), which the body receives in very small quantities by eating plant-based foods, mushrooms, and yeast.
  • Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol), which the body receives in large quantities from 2 different sources. Firstly, eating meat, liver, egg yolks, oily fish (salmon, mackerel, and tuna), fish liver oils, milk and milk-based products. Several food sources of vitamin D are listed in Table 1 below.

Secondly, Vitamin D₃ is produced by the body itself. This can be achieved by going out in the sun for 15 minutes, 2-4 times per week, such as in the morning from 6 to 8 am and in the afternoon from 4 to 6 am. The UV rays in sunlight can help the body to convert cholesterol to vitamin D.

• Helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential to strengthen bones and teeth
• Helps treat conjunctivitis
• Helps absorb Vitamin A
• Indirectly, Vitamin D plays an important part in the functioning of the nervous system, maintaining heart rhythm, and strengthening the immune system

• Rickets
• Severe tooth decay
• Muscle weakness

Children who are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency include those who are rarely exposed to sunlight or who wear sunscreen, infants, children who do not eat much food containing Vitamin D, and children who are overweight.

• Breastfed babies should receive a vitamin D supplement of 200-400 IU a day as breast milk usually contains 25 IU per liter; therefore, breastfed babies should receive vitamin D drops or multivitamins with vitamin D. For more information, please consult your child’s doctor.
• Formula-fed babies drinking 1 liter of milk containing vitamin D (400 IU per liter) daily usually get sufficient vitamin D. However, babies drinking less than 1 liter of formula milk daily should receive a vitamin D supplement of 200-400 IU a day.
• Older children drinking less than 1 liter of milk containing vitamin D or standard formula milk daily should also consume foods high in vitamin D or multivitamins with vitamin D of at least 400 IU a day.

Consuming over 2,000 IU per day may lead to excess vitamin D in children. Symptoms indicative of this excess include urinating frequently, being abnormally thirsty, severe dehydration, conjunctivitis, itchiness, stomachaches, vomiting, and constipation. The condition can also result in calcium deposits accumulating on blood vessel walls, the heart, lungs, liver, and stomach, and can cause kidney stones.

All children should receive the right amounts of Vitamin D to ensure their optimum strength and growth.

Reference

1. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari Catherine M. Gordon David A. Hanley Robert P. Heaney M. Hassan Murad Connie M. Weaver Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 96, Issue 7, 1 July 2011, Pages 1911–1930
2. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Vitamin D-Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Accessed from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/. Accessed September 1, 2017.